Machine for creasing box blanks



Feb. 10, 1953 TRIOLO MACHINE FOR CREASING BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1953 TRIOLO MACHINE FOR CREASING BOX BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1949 INVENTOR.

g d flwz Feb. 10, 1953 TRIOLO MACHINE FOR CREASING BOX BLANKS Feb. 10, 1953 TRIOLO 2,627,629

MACHINE FOR CREASING BOX BLANKS Filed Aug. 4, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

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BY I

, 4004f oe/v5) Patented Feb. 10, 1953 NITED STATES PTENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for creasing box blanks and relates more particularly to a novel machine designed primarily for operating on box blanks made from plastic materials where heat must be applied at the crease lines.

an important object of the invention is to provide an improved machine which is under the control of a single operator and which successively takes a blank from a stack, conveys it to a crease applying station and then moves it downwardly between complemental male and female dies, one of which is heated, thus applying a plurality of permanent fold lines which prepare the blank for subsequent operation by a second machine which applies adhesive to tabs formed at opposite ends of two opposed side walls and completes the box.

The manufacture of the boxes from blanks formed of acetate and other plastic materials has always presented a problem because of the need for applying heat to the fold lines and many blanks are ruined when conventional folding machines are employed. Accordingly, most boxes formed from the clear transparent plastic materials have been made largely by hand and the resulting cost has been high.

Where machine operations have been attempted there has also been a considerable problem in feeding the blanks, one by one, from a bank of the blanks.

In accordance with the present invention novel suction means are employed for successively withdrawing the uppermost blank, moving it to the creasing station, then engaging it by a forming block or male die, and then moving it intoengagement with the female die while carefully guiding the blank in the course of its movement so as to accurately crease the blank.

Another object of the invention is to carefully control the speed of engagement between the dies so as to delay the actual creasing operation until suitable heat has been applied along the creasing line.

in the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a broken plan View of a machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a broken end elevation taken at the left hand end of the view of Fig. 1 and showing the cam shaft and cams thereon which drive the several operating parts of the machine.

Fig. 3 shows a portion of the mechanism of Fig. 2 with the valve member in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a broken vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 and showing certain details of the blank delivering mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a broken section'taken on line 55 of Fig. 1 and showing details of the blank delivering mechanism.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5 but shows the blank supporting platform in lowered position.

Fig. 7 is a section taken through the female die and showing an end elevation of the male die.

Fig. 8 is a broken section taken on line 83 of Fi 1.

Fig. 9 is a broken section taken on line 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the blank after it has been operated on by the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 11 is a broken end elevation showing the means for oscillating the blank conveyor-assembly.

Fig. 12 is a broken end elevation showing the head which supports the plunger upon which the forming block is mounted.

Fig. 13 is an elevational view of one of the cams.

The blank 9 is initially flat and its contour or condition after it has been operated on by the machine of the present invention is shown in Fig. 10.

This creased blank includes a base l0, end walls H, side walls [2 having gluing tabs 13 at each end thereof for attachment to the end walls H. The machine of the present invention forms the crease lines M which define the four edges of base Hi. It could be modified to also form the crease line defining the connection of tabs it with side walls I2. It has been found more satisfactory to form these crease lines by the adhesive.

applying machine which sets up the box.

The blank shown in Fig. 10 is longer than it is wide and hence the reference to end walls as the shorter ones and side walls as the longer ones.

It will be appreciated, however, that the machineof the present invention may be quickly changed over to operate on a square box with all side walls of equal length.

A pile of the blanks 9 is supported by a platform [5 which is pivotally supported at its rear end on stud it which is mounted on the frame 8 and which is urged upwardly at its forward end by a spring I! connected at one end to an extension 2| to the rear of the stud and at its other end to a pin 22 carried by the frame.

Means for normally holding platform l5 downwardly comprise a lever 2|] centrally pivoted at 23 and whose rear end is provided with a roller 24 which engages a generally circular cam 25 having a single arcuately curved recess (not 3 shown) which, when roller 24 falls into such recess, causes the opposite end of the lever to rise. A spring 26 urges the rear section of the lever downwardly, forcing the roller into engagement with the cam surface. The cam 25 is keyed to a cam shaft 53.

Platform I is provided with a downwardly extending bracket 21 having a roller 3| which is engaged by afiatplate 32 carried at-the forward end of lever of the lever descends, the forward end of the platform falls from the position of Fig. 5 to the position of Fig. 6.

Means for holding the blanksin -alignment on platform I5 include a rear stop 33 and.a forward stop 36. For the purpose ofeifectively separating the uppermost blank;ifrom.'thei.pile, a brush 35 is carried by stop 34 and, if for any reason, the second blankshould adhere to the first after it has been picked up, the brush wipes it off on the-downstroke byengaging the edge thereof.

When the platform is raised, the uppermost blankis pickedup'by anozzle 38 mountedon-a bracket 36 carried'by -a movableassembly 39; A flexible conduit 31 is" connected at 'oneend thereof with the-nozzleand theother end 4| thereof is connected to-a leve'r*42 pivoted at 43. This lever constitutes the movable valve member of a rotary slide-valve 48 and" when lever i2 is in its lowered position (Fig. 3) the valve is open and conduit thus becomes connected witha-suction pump (not shown). Inits raised position (Fig. 2) the valve is closed andpressure in the nozzle isneutral. Means-forraising and lowering lever 42 comprisea link 'connected'also with a bell-crank lever 45 pivoted at 46. The opposite arm 41 of the bell-cranklever-carries a roller 5i at its outer end which engagesacam '52 keyed to cam shaft 53. A pin 54 m slot 55*limits travel of 'lever' 42. The=shapes*of"thesecams are not illustrated" for thereason'th'at they'a're simple cams'which perform simple operations;

Assembly 30 I and bracket 3B which supports nozzle 38 is secured to a shaft 56 which is mounted for longitudinal-sliding movement inbearings 5'9 and 60-, the b'earings also permitting rotative movement of theshaft:

Means forcausing 1 oscillating movement of shaft"- 5 6 and, accordingly; assembly 3 0 and bracket 36, to mov'e'nozzle38 toward blanks 9, comprise a non-circuiarrod 6| which iseccentrica-lly disposed relative toshaft '56-and which'is mounted at its o'ppo'sitesends in bushings 62 and -63 freely mounted on shaftf56. Any sub'stantial longitudinalmovement' of bushings 62' and 63 cm shaft 56; is prevented. 'by bearings 59- and 63.:v A guide 64: carried by bracketx36 is arranged for'sliding movement on rod: 6|. 1 Bushing63 carriesa crank 66 which is caused to oscillate by link 58: connected thereto and also to aaelever-fil centrally, pivoted at 68 and provided at its: opposite end with .a ro1ler..'l2. which engages a. cam '13- also keyed to cam shaft-53. 'I'hus,as crank 66 isoscillated, bracket 36Iand nozzle 38 are oscillated from the-position of "Fig; 5.. where the latterpicks up the blank and'starts' its straight-line travel to the-creasing station; to-a raised'p'osition when it commences its-longitudinal travel back from the creasingstation:

This travel isaccomplished'by-alever'M pivoted at its rear end-on-a vertical axis-and having a roller I6 l which is 'eng agedby walls of a groove 11 in a drum cam 18" alsokeyedto camshaft 53'.

At its oppositeend lever= "II is connected by Thus,;as such forward section 4 means of a link 82 with assembly 30 which carries the nozzle.

Platform I5 carrying the blanks 9 is normally in its lowered position of Fig. 6 and is held in such position against the raising influence of spring I! by means of lever 20 and plate 32 which engages roller 3|. As lever 20 is raised, due to roller 24 falling into the recess in cam 25, the exit end of nozzle 38 is lowered .due to assembly 30 turning: ina counter-clockwise direction when viewed as in Fig. 2 and during this movement rotary slide valve member 42 moves downwardly, thus opening the valve to the source of negative pressure, and'when the nozzle is contacted by uppermost blank (Fig. 5), the nozzle starts to movelongitudinally to the creasing station. Just before thismovement starts, platform I5 and the remaining blanks start to descend to the position of Fig. 6. Brush 35 removes the next lower blank from the one departing from the pile, should there be anytendency to stick. Thepick-up end of nozzle 38 descend-etc the same level at the start of each cycle of'operationialthough as the blanks are successively removedfrom the topof the pile, it is necessary for'platform I5. to swingv upwardly a. progressively increasing distance since the'pile becomesslower. Inasmuch as up.-

ward movementiof theplatform is achieved. by,

action of spring I1 this distance of travel is determined by the heightof the pile, the lowered nozzle acting 'as'a stop for'this upward movement.

The suction afforded by nozzle 38 is ordinarily sufficient to guide the blank to its'proper position .relative to'the-creasing. dies. For the purpose, however, of assuring. straight-line travel and, more important still, for holding the 'blank in position after the suction in the nozzle is released due to closing of valve member. at the commencementof the return travel of assembly 30, the following means are provided.

Vertical guide rails 83 and 84 are carried by trackways 85 and '86 wh'ich have inwardly facinglongitudinal grooves 81 therein. It will be noted from an examination of Fig.- 1 that these guide rails extend rearwardly substantialiytoth axis- I6 of platform I5 upon which the blanks are mounted. and that upward movement of l the blank during travelis prevented by'flanges 80.

Trackway 86 (Fig. 9) is carriedby across-slide 9| mounted for straight-line reciprocating'mova' ment in a recess92 in frame member 93. Similarly, trackway 85 (Fig. 8) is carried oncrossslide 94 mounted in recess-55 in the frame-for straight-line reciprocating movement.

and 9) opposite travel of the other slide and'its trackway is effected by an idlergear- I00 mounted for free rotation on frame 93. This idlerengages rack teeth edges of cross slides 91 and? respectively.-

Cross slide .9I is caused'to reciprocate -by-lever I03 pivotally connected thereto at I04. The-op- Onlycross-slideBI is driven and as such slide and its: trackway moves inwardly (to the left'in-Figs. 1=

IOI and I02. formed along the innerdiate position (Fig. 8), and an innermost position (not shown).

The contour of cam I! which controls movement of trackways 85 and 86 is shown in Fig. 13. At the start of the cycle of operation, when nozzle 38 is about to pick up a blank, roller I first encounters a rise I08 which causes the trackways to move inwardly from the outermost to the intermediate position, thus causing guide plates 83 and 84 carried thereby to move inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 where the latter engage the sides of the blanks and correct any lateral misalignment which may have been caused by the removal of the last blank from the pile.

This intermediate position is maintained during the travel of the blank to the creasing station and after the blank has travelled past the horizontal flanges 80 its opposed marginal edges enter the grooves 31 in these trackways and are retained within such grooves when the blank arrives at the creasing station as shown in Fig. 8. The timing of movement of the parts is such as to cause the forming block or male die I to descend from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9 before nozzle 38 is raised upwardly, preparatory for its return travel. The cam which controls downward movement of the forming block will be discussed later but for present purposes it will sufiice to note that when this forming block descends from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9 it momentarily dwells in this latter position for a brief period to enable the heated forming block to impart sufficient heat to the crease lines.

The downward movement of the blank from the position of Fig. 8 to the position of Fig. 9 is slight, but is nevertheless suilicient to provide an opportunity for the blank to become misaligned relative to the female die. To support the blank during this period of downward movement, the trackways 85 and 85 are arranged to move inward-1y slightly, thus assuring the blank being accurately positioned relative to the female die. This further inward movement is caused by roller I05 contacting a further rise I09 in cam I01. Thus, by the time the forming block has moved downwardly to the position of Fig. 9, the need for further support of the blank by the trackways is eliminated and these trackways, accordingly, move back to their outermost position shown in Fig. 9. This outward movement is accomplished by further rotation of cam I31 which causes the follower to ride over the lowest part I03 of the cam.

The female die consists of two lateral plates H2 and H3 and two longitudinal plates H4 and H5 which are securely mounted on plate Ill). The inner edges of these four plates coincide with the crease lines M of the blank and if a box of different size or shape is desired it is only necessary to replace plate IIO carrying the four die plates of the changed proportions.

The dimensions of male die or forming block I20 are smaller than the dimensions of the female die by an amount equal to the thickness of the blank.

The forming block I20, which is mounted at the lower end of plunger I2I is provided with suitable heating means such as a resistance coil (not shown) which is connected with wires II9.

Plunger I2! is mounted for reciprocating movement in a slideway I22 supported by a block I23 at the upper end of a head I24 which is mounted at its lower end on the frame. One end of a bell-crank lever I is secured to a vertical projection I3I at I29. The bell-crank lever is pivoted at I32 on the head and the opposite arm I33 of the lever is connected at its outer end with the upper end of a link I34. The lower end of such link carries a follower I35 which engages the external periphery of a cam I36 carried by cam shaft 53. This cam has an inclined surface I36 upon which the follower travels during the first part of the cycle to cause the forming block to descend from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9. The forming block stays in the latter position during the travel of the follower over concentric surface I37, this dwell being necessary to allow sufficient heat to be imparted to the crease lines of the blank. The follower then encounters rise I38 which moves the forming block downwardly from the position of Fig. 9 to its lowermost position. where the heated blank has become creased by coaction between the female die and the plunger. The plunger then rises due to action of spring I40 and the creased blank is moved upwardly from the female die by any suitable ejector and is moved from the creasing station by nozzle 33 arriving with the next blank.

The operation of the machine is as follows. A pile of the blanks I0 are placed upon hinged platform i5 and the motor operating the cam shaft is energized. Assembly 30 moves to starting position and nozzle 38 descends to its normal position. Valve 42 opens the suction line and the platform I5 rises by action of spring I! until the top blank contacts the nozzle. Assembly 30 now travels to operating station and positions the blank over the female die as the plunger carryme the male die descends.

Trackways -86 move inwardly as the die moves from the position of Fig. 8 to that of Fig. 9 where it dwells long enough to heat the crease lines. Valve 42 closes since nozzle 38 has done its work. As the die descends to final position, assembly 30 returns to starting position for a new blank.

While one form or embodiment of the inven: tion has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a specific application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for creasing box blanks made from plastic material and comprising a frame, a support for a pile of the blanks, fixed and movable dies for creasing the blanks, atleast one of such dies being provided with heating means, and means for conveying the blanks, one by one, from the pile to the creasing dies and comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor assembly provided with pick-up means arranged to remove the top blank and convey the same to the creasing dies, and laterally movable trackways mounted on the frame which engage opposed edges of the blank during conveying and which move inwardly as the movable die approaches the fixed die.

2. A machine for creasing box blanks made from plastic material and comprising a frame, a support for a pile of the blanks, fixed and movable dies for creasing the blanks, the male die being provided with electric heating means, and means for conveying the blanks, one by one, from ass sts edges of the blank during" conveyingand which move inwardlyas the "movable die approaches the-fixed die; v

3. A machine for creasingbox blanks and comprising aframef a'supp'ort for a-pil'eof the blanks, a fixed female creasingdiefavertically movable male creasing die-,"and-1nea hs forconveyingthe blanks, one by onef from the pileto' the creasin dies, acam' shaft, apluralitywf-camskeyed' thereto and means for driving the camshaft, one of such cams controlling' niovement' of the male die, said blank conveying means" comprising-"-a-- longitudinally" movable" conveyor assembly in cluding a suction nozzle-which" removes the top blank and conveys 'the'sanie' to'the-c'reasin'g' dies, a lever-driven by'one ofthe'camsfOr imparting movement to-the conveyor assembly,"and laterally movable trackways mounted" for reciprocatingmovement in the frame and which engage two opposed edges of the'bla-nk 'durin'gconveying and which move inwardly as the male di e' descends.-

4. A'maehinefor creasingbox blanks and com prising aframe, a support for apile of the blanks,

a fixed female creasing'die, avertically movable male creasing" die; electric heatingmean's' associg ated with the niale 'dieia camshaft, a plurality of cams keyed thereto, and means for driving the camshaft, one of such camscontr'olling move ment of the male die, a pivoted,longitudinally' 5. A' machine for creasi'ngbox 'blanks made from-plastic materi-ar and comprising; a frameia support for a'pile of'the' blanks,'a' fixed female creasing dieja vertically movabl'e'male creasing dieprovided with'heatin'g means, and means 'fof' conveying the blanks, one byonerromtne pile to the creasing dies',a'c-am shaftand'a plurality of cam keyed thereto, the supp'ort'for the blanks comprising a movable plate which is spring-urged upwardly, a lever driven'by one of said cams for lowering the support, said blank conveying means comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor assemblyincluding an oscillating suction nozzle which'descends upon the blanks as the 'supportis' moved upwardlyand removes the'top blankand conveys the-sameto the creasing dies, levers" drlven byother of said-cams" for impartiilg'said' oscillating and longitudinal'movernentto the conveyor assembly, and laterally movable 'trackway's' slidably mounted-on the frame which engage two:

opposed edges of the blank during conveying and which move inwardly as the' male die descends.

6. A machine for creasing box blanks and comprising a frame; a support'for a'pile of the blanks,

a fixed female creasing-die. a vertically -m'ovable male creasing die, heatin'g'm'eans associated with one of the dies and means for conveying the blanks, one by .one', froin thepile to the creasingdies; acarn- "shaft; provided with 'a plurali-ty-ot cams, the blank support comprising'a'- movable plate which is spring-urged upwardly, a lever driven by one of the cams for lowering the-support, said blank conveying means comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor assembly" including a suction nozzle which descends upon the blanks asthe support is moved u'p'w'a'rdl'yand removes the top'blank'a'nd conveys thesaine to the creasing dies, a lever driven'by another of said cams for imparting longitudinal-movement to the conveyor assembly, a-lever driven by another of said cam's'to raise and lower the no'zzley and laterally movable'trackwa'ys slidably mounted on the frame which engage two'oppose'd' edges of the blank during conveying'and which move inwardly'as'the male die 'des'c'ends.

7: A machine for creasing box blanks and comprising a frame, a support for a'pile of the blanks which'is pivoted at one end thereof on the frame, a fixed female creasing die, a; vertically movable malecreasing die, heating means associated with at least one'of the dies, and means for conveying the blanks, one by one, from the pile to the creasing dies, a cam shaft provided with a plurality of cams, spring means for urging-the'free'end' of the support upwardly, a lever driven by one of thecams for lowering the support, said blank conveying means comprising a pivoted longitudinally movable conveyor assembly including a suction nozzle which descends "upon the blanks as the support is moved upwardly and removes the top-blank and conveys the same to the creasing dies, means for providing negativepressure for the nozzle, a valve operated from the cam shaft for controlling the negative pressure, levers driven by other of said cams for imparting pivotal and longitudinal movement to the conveyor assembly, and laterally movable trackways mounted on the frame which engage two opposed sides of the blank during conveying and which move inwardly as the male descends.

8. A machine for creasing box blanks and comprising a frame, a vertically movable support for a pile of the blanks mounted on the frame, male and female creasing dies including a fixed die and a vertically movable die, heating means associated with at least one of the dies, and means for conveying the blanks, oneby one, from'the pile to the creasing dies, a cam shaft provided with a plurality of cams, spring means for urging the support upwardly, one of the cams being operatively connected with the support to'lower the same, said blank conveying means comprising a longitudinally movable conveyor assembly ineluding an oscillating suction nozzle which descends upon the blanks as the support is moved upwardly to remove the top blank and convey the same to the creasing station, and levers driven by other 'of said cams for imparting said descending and longitudinal movement to the conveyor assembly.

9. A machine for creasing box blanks made from plastic material and comprising'a frame, a support for a'pile of the blanks, a hired, generally rectangular female-creasing die, a ver-'- tically movable male creasing die which moves the blank into engagement with the upper edges of the female die and dwells in such position until sufficient heat has been imparted to the lines of the blank about to be creased and then moves the blank into the female die, heating means associated with at least one of the dies, and meansfor conveying the blanks, one by one, from the pile to the creasing dies, comprising a longitudinally m'ovable conveyor assembly which removes the top blank and conveys the same to the creasing dies, and laterally movable trackways slidably mounted on the frame which engage two opposed edges of the blank during conveying and then move inwardly to support such 5 edges as the male die moves to initial engagement with the female die.

10. A machine for creasing box blanks made from plastic material and comprising a frame,

a support for a pile of the blanks, a fixed gen- 10 erally rectangular female creasing die, a vertically movable male creasing die which moves a blank into engagement with the edges of the female die and momentarily dwells in such position until heat has been imparted to the lines of the 15 blank about to be creased and then moves the blank into the female die, heating means associated with the male die, a cam shaft provided with a plurality of cams keyed thereto, means for driving the cam shaft, a longitudinally mov- 20 able conveyor assembly which removes the top blank and conveys the same to the creasing dies, a lever driven by one of such cams for impart- 10 ing movement to the conveyor assembly, and laterally movable blank-guiding trackways which engage two opposed edges of the blank during conveying and then move inwardly to support such edges as the male die moves to engagement with the female die.

LOUIS TRIOLO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 225,915 Boyce Mar. 30, 1880 757,667 Mayall Apr. 19, 1904 1,094,970 Bertin Apr. 28, 1914 1,479,401 Smith Jan. 1, 1924 1,688,459 Forward Oct. 23, 1928 1,912,733 Simmons June 6, 1933 2,429,960 Piperoux et a1 Oct. 28, 1947 2,438,498 Geist et al Mar. 30, 1948 

